Dear Friends, Family and Lovers of Literature,

As many of you know, I like to write.  You may also know that I participate in National Novel Writing Month, a 30-day writing challenge where Wrimos (as we're called) write a 50,000 word novel.

You may have also heard me talk about how important literacy is to me.  Those of you who have known me since I was a child know how much I love books.  And those of you who haven't probably still know how much I love books--it's not like I don't mention it at least once a day.  It's not a far leap to say that my love of writing and at least part of my skill come from reading all those books.

But I wouldn't have been able to get where I am without a supportive network of friends and family who not only fed my book habit, but encouraged me to write.  So now I want to give something back, and help other young, aspiring writers get their words onto paper.

The Office of Letters and Light, Nanowrimo's parent nonprofit organization, runs the Young Writer's Program, which helps give kids the tools and motivation to write--along with that insanely important support network.

So, to help them do what they do best (encourage young people to become active in the literary community), I'm raising money.  Now, I get something out of this too.  If I raise $200 I get to go to San Francisco and attend the Night of Writing Dangerously, one of the coolest literary events of the year.  The event is a write-a-thon and includes a delicious buffet as well as door prizes.

 But this is not ultimately about me getting a treat-filled night of literary abandon. This is about children and adults getting the encouragement, structure, and inspiration they need to achieve their creative potential. Proceeds from the event will fund National Novel Writing Month's free creative writing programs in hundreds of schools and communities around the world.

So on behalf of the Office of Letters and Light and aspiring writers everywhere, I am asking you to donate. And I would never ask you to do something I wouldn't do myself, so I've donated some of my own money as well.  I donated last year too, but this year I wanted to do more.

Even if you can only donate $1, and even if I don't get to go to San Fran, it will be worth it, and we'll both know that that $1 will get some kid a couple hundred words closer to achieving her dreams.  Thank you for supporting me in my novel-writing quest, and for helping the Office of Letters and Light create a more engaged and inspiring world.

Kelly